Seat cover



March 17, 1964 D. c. LARKlN SEAT COVER Original Filed May 12, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 25,537 SEAT COVER Daniel Charles Larkin, 3134Woodstock Drive, Detroit 21, Mich.

Original No. 2,744,567, dated May 8, 1956, Ser. No. 354,555, May 12,1953. Application for reissue Nov. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 321,707

7 Claims. (til. 297219) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to an improved seat cover and particularly to acover for an automobile seat.

One object is to provide a cover for an automobile seat which cover isso constructed as to present an upper wearing surface which surfacepossesses a smooth, hard, slippery finish to permit an occupant of theseat to slide easily thereover from one end to the other withoutdisarrangement or sticking of the clothes to the cover, and which coveris also so constructed as to present an under wearing surface adapted todirectly overlie the assembly seat cushion, which, under surfacestrongly resists slidable movement thereof over the seat cushion andtends to grip the same and adhere thereto. This seat cover as a resultof such two-ply construction may be secured to a seat cushion with aminimum of attaching means.

More specifically, an object is to provide a seat cover of the characterdescribed which consists of a multi-ply sheet, the upper ply of whichmay be formed of rayon, nylon, or other suitable hard finish wearresistant smooth, sleek material, and the rear ply of which may beformed of sponge rubber, felt, or the like.

The upper ply presents a slippery surface over which an occupant of theseat may easily slide. The lower ply presents such a surface to the seatcushion that sliding of the cover thereover is strongly resisted and thecover tends to so frictionally engage and grip the top surface of theseat cushion that sliding movement of the seat occupant over the coverwill not disturb the relationship of the cover upon the seat cushion.

Due to the prounced affinity of the cover for the cushion and its secureadherence thereto and its resistance to slidabie movement thereover, itis possible to fasten a cover upon a seat cushion with a minimum ofattaching means and the cover will at all times present a smooth,unwrinklcd, neat appearance.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features will more fullyappear from the following specification, claims and accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

HQ. 1 in the upper View is a perspective of the seat cover embodying myinvention, and in the lower view is a perspective of a seat cushionbefore placement of the cover thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of a seat cushion provided with my improvedcover secured thereover;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View through the seat coveralong its forward edge.

The seat cover of my invention is illustrated as mounted upon anautomobile seat cushion. It is for this purpose that it is particularlydesigned. It is obvious, however, that it might be used as a cover forseat cushions of various kinds, or even for the back cushions of seatsor the like.

in the drawings, a seat cushion is indicated in the lower view of FIG. 1by the numeral 10. The supporting rails which mount the cushion assemblyupon the floor of the vehicle are indicated by the numeral 12. This seatcushion assembly as shown and as customarily provided constitutcs asupporting spring structure which may be of the coil spring type or thezigzag spring type, both of which are in common and widespread use.

It is customary to spread a spring liner over the springs and suitablecushioning material and then to provide a top layer of trim materialwhich completely encloses this inner assembly and in the lower view ofFIG. 1, the cushion so exhibits such trim material which may be of anysuitable trim fabric. Such trim fabric commonly presents a rough surfaceor nape which impedes the slidable movement of an occupant of the seatthereover. This of course is not true of a leather cushion, but leatheris not in widespread use at the present time.

Seat covers of various kinds have heretofore been provided. Such coversare formed to fit neatly over the seat cushion and to be secured to theseat frame to maintain the same in place. Such covers are commonlyformed of wear resisting protective material which may be of smoothmaterial over which an occupant can slide and which will protect theupholstery fabric. Difiiculty is experienced, however, in securing suchcovers to the seat cushion so that they will retain their place thereonwithout sliding to one side or becoming disarranged as they are used andit is customary to secure them to the seat cushion fully thereabout.

The seat cover here shown is formed of a muiti-ply sheet. There is anuppermost wear resisting ply indicated by the numeral 14 which may beformed of rayon,, nylon, or the like. It is formed of a smooth, hardfinish, somewhat slippery material. Such upper ply is secured to a lowerply indicated by the numeral 16. The lower ply may be formed of felt,sponge rubber, or the like. Sponge rubber is preferred because itpresents an ideal surface for the purpose desired. As shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the sponge rubber layer 16 possesses a thickness substantially inexcess of that of the upper layer of rayon 14. The rayon layer 14 isfolded over the front edge of the sponge rubber layer 16 and may befolded back there underneath as at 18, and may then extend downwardlyforming a skirt 20. Such rayon layer may be similarly folded backunderneath the ends and then extended down to form an end skirt which isa continuation of the front skirt 20, all as shown in FIG. 2.

A reinforcing strip 22 may overlie the upper surface of the rayon layer14 along the front edge and along the ends and be stitched therethroughand through the sponge rubber layer as at 24, all as shown in FIG. 4. Abinding 26 may be folded about the rear edge of the cover as shown inFIG. 3.

The lower edge of the skirt is folded over upon itself providing atubular pleat 28 and a tie-cord 30 or the like extends through thistubular pleat, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The ends of this cord mayterminate in hooks 32 which hooks are adapted to be engaged withinapertures 34 formed in the seat supports 12, all as shown in FIGS. 2 and3. This cord may be a flexible, resilient rubber reinforced cord as isavailable on the market so that a constant tension may be maintainedabout the bottom of the skirt holding the seat cover upon the seatcushion and stretching the same snugly thereover.

Seat covers are presently made so that the front face slopes somewhatrearwardly and downwardly. The seat cushion assembly is designed in thisfashion so as to properly support the knees of an occupant of the seat,and it will be noted that the skirt terminates so that the securing cord30 extends about the seat at a point substantially below its uppermargin and the cover is held securely against displacement thereon. Thecord extends about the seat cushion assembly along a median line betweenupper and bottom portions of the assembly and is drawn thereabout sothat the cover is held down securely.

What I claim is:

1. A cover for an automobile seat cushion comprising substantiallycoterminous upper and lower plies of flexible sheet material juxtaposedand secured together forming a multiply flexible sheet adapted tooverlie the top surface of an automobile seat cushion and beingsubstantially coextensive therewith, the upper ply presenting a smoothhard finished sleek outer surface over which an occupant of a seatprovided with the cover may easily slide, the lower ply being one ofsponge rubber, and anchoring means secured to the cover to fasten thesame to a seat frame.

2. A cover for an automobile seat cushion comprising upper and lowerplies of flexible sheet material juxtaposed and secured together forminga multi-ply flexible sheet, the upper ply presenting a smooth, hardfinished sleek outer surface over which an occupant of a seat providedwith the cover may easily slide, the lower ply being one of spongerubber substantially coterminous with the seat portion of the upper plyand secured thereto throughout its expanse, a skirt depending from thefront margin and the two end margins of the seat portion of the upperply and formed by a continuation of the upper ply only, a securing cordextending along the lower margin of the skirt and coupled therewith andprovided at opposite ends with anchoring means adapted to engagesuitable anchoring devices to hold the cover in place upon the seatcushion, said skirt having a width less than the height of the seat towhich it is applied.

3. A cover for an automobile seat cushion comprising upper and lowerplies of flexible sheet material juxtaposed and secured together forminga multi-ply flexible sheet, the upper ply presenting a smooth, hardfinished sleek outer surface over which an occupant of a seat providedwith the cover may easily slide, the lower ply being one of spongerubber having an outer surface exhibiting a pronounced resistance toslidable movement thereover and adapted to frictionally engage withsubstantial adhesion thereto a seat cushion over which the cover isspread, said lower ply extending throughout a seating area of the upperply and secured thereto throughout such area with the upper ply having askirt extending along the front and sides of the seating area and beyondthe lower ply, a portion of said skirt being folded about the adjacentmarginal edges of the lower ply and extending over the underside of thelower ply adjacent the margin thereof and secured thereto, the remainingportion of the skirt depending from the seating area and the lower ply,and securing means extending along the margin of the skirt and adaptedto be secured to suitable anchoring devices to hold the cover in placeon the seat cushion.

4. In a seat cover for automobiles and the like a top pad, a spongerubber layer secured to the lower surface of said top pad andcoextensive therewith, a skirt depending from the front and side edgesof said top pad, said skirt having a width less than the height of theseat to which it is applied, an elastic cord secured to the lower edgeof said skirt throughout its entire length and extending beyond thelower rear corners of said skirt, and hook members secured to the endsof said elastic cord.

5. A seat cover as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a skirt issecured to the upper ply and depends there from along the front marginand along the two end margins which skirt has a width less than theheight of the seat to which the cover is applied, and characterizedfurther in that the anchoring means is secured to the lower margin ofthe skirt and is adapted to tension the same to draw the seat portion ofthe cover taut across the top surface of a seat cushion.

6. A cover for the seat cushion of an automobile sent comprisingsubstantially colerminus upper and lower plies of flexible sheetmaterial juxtaposed and secured together forming a mulri-ply flexiblesheet adapatcd to overlie the top surface of an automobile seat cushionand being substantially coextensive therewith, the upper ply presentinga smooth hard finished sleek outer surface over which an occupant of aseal provided with the cover may easily slide, the lower ply being oneof sponge rubber and secured to the upper ply throughout its expanse, askirt depending only from the front margin and the two end margins ofthe seat portion readily slhlnble relative to the front and sides of aseat cushion over which the shirt lies, and means extending along thelower margin of the shirt for zcnsiom'ng the skirt downwardly about thesear cushion along the front and sides of the seat cushion including aresilient cord and anchoring means for engaging portions of {he sent tosecure the cover thereto in tension.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 characterized in that the skirthas a smooth hard finished sleet: surface readily slirlable relative tothe front and sides of a seat cushion.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 770,973 Lippert Sept. 27, 1904 1,499,166 FrazierJune 24, 1924 1,610,286 Hood et a]. Dec. 14, 1926 1,717,121 Sallop Junell, 1929 1,804,841 Pedroli May 12, 1931 1,860,520 Zink May 31, 19321,878,045 W'edler Sept. 30, 1932 2,202,065 Peebles May 28, 19402,516,363 Block et al June 25, 1950 2,546,109 Puchalsky Mar. 20, 1951

